Cooking Articles

Virgin (Olive Oil) Territory

“Got eevooo?” My brother asked. What?, I responded. “Got eevooo? You know, E.V.O.O.?” Ummm… right. He was teasing me, of course, knowing how I feel about the subject of oil, particularly...

20 Ways To Make Pita Sandwiches

There’s only one problem with pita pockets, really, and that’s when I forget to buy them at the store. That’s probably because they’re not shelved where I think they should be—with the bread...

Pardon Me, Could You Please Pass The Homemade Condiments?

When you look on the inside of your fridge doors, do you see a lineup of all the familiar condiments, ready to adorn your next sandwich, burger, hot dog, or salad? Next time you reach for those tired old...

Blueberries: Summer's Handpicked Bounty

The berries were clustered together in groups of six, eight and ten; as we reached among the leaves, the previous night’s rainstorm’s rivulets ran down our arms. Slipping the occasional berry in our...

Fruit and Ice Make Summer Nice

In the peak of summer heat, it takes more than water to cool the body down. If it is the end of a long day working in the yard, a cold beer at sunset might be in order. A jog through the neighborhood...

Oven-Free and Easy Chocolate Fix

That's right folks, no baking involved for this one. This recipe has been listed elsewhere as "Boiled Cookies," but I think that just sounds disgusting. It's great for bachelors who don't have an oven...

Did You Move My Cheese?

I. Love. Cheese. As far as I’m concerned, I could live on bread and cheese alone. But faithful readers know all that already. "Oh, Rebecca, why are you talking about how much you love cheese again?...

Turning Your Slow Cooker Upside-Down

There are some dishes that have a catchy or unusual name that might make you stop and think twice— how did they come to be called by that name? A couple recipes that come to mind are Angels on Horseback...

What To Do With Too Many Tomatoes

It happens to the best of us: one day we walk into the kitchen and realize that tomatoes are everywhere. It might have begun with a trip the farmers market where a wedge of a purplish-red Brandywine seduced...

It's a Bird. It's a Plane. It's Super Food!

This morning, I made a preschooler very happy with his breakfast. I didn’t start out with grand intentions in mind. I was just throwing together a quick French toast using some leftover Italian bread,...

Back of the House 101

This week I thought I'd share some tricks of the trade with you. A good professional kitchen is run like a well-oiled machine. You can make your own back of the house an easier place in which to work...

Grilling Up a Hot Summer Salad

In the dead of summer, menu planning often revolves around two main elements: barbecue and salads. During the summer when we can’t stand the heat, we do what what we do to get out of the kitchen. We...

From Russia With Love

One of summer's great pleasures is vacation. I just returned from my summer vacation of two weeks in Europe. My husband, sister, grandfather and I finished our trip in Moscow, a city conjured in our...

On (Not) Loving Water

With the heat of summer upon us, I thought I would write something about the benefits of drinking water. You know…how we all should drink at least 8 glasses a day… what its many benefits are to our...

Gone Fishin'

Summertime should be full of activities that the snowy winters, rainy springs, and chilly autumns don’t allow. Playing baseball till the sun goes down, swimming all day until your skin is the color...

Seed Savers: Are You One?

Heirloom seeds. Hmmm, sounds like something that’s been discovered in my grandmother’s attic. I can just envision it: An avid gardener, she picked the seed heads off her favorites at the end of the...